Why we chose NetBSD and then moved to Linux for our Charles River Data Systems emulation platform.

This is for historical reference as we switched to Linux in 2011

To select the platform to use we reviewed most of the opensource unix derivatives. We'd already decided that the OS must be opensource, and unix based. Windows NT was considered but the considerable architectural differences would have made the CPE a lot more complex.

NetBSD is oriented around portability

NetBSD is derived from BSD, and has a much more unix-like core. This also makes it closer to UNOS 8/9 which had some BSD compatability.

NetBSD is smaller and more compact than the other *BSD derivatives.

As simulation people we feel that NetBSD is more suited.

The Linux Port

Having originally developed under NetBSD we are now involved in porting SwiftIOS to Linux. Some of the reasons above are not as valid in 2011 as they were in 2001 and some of our customers have a requirements for OS approval, and most of these already have approved Windows 7, Windows Server and Linux.

After much consideration we have ruled out using SFU/Interix, it'll be in extended support from 2011 until 2014

So, if there is ever a Windows version of SwiftIOS it will be using a different architecture, with much more work in the emulation layer. We think it's still possible but a lot of work for little benefit